IntroductionWhen
Lexicon first introduced the RT-10 Universal Disc Player in 2003, it
was considered by many an ambitious project. Subsequently, the Proceed
Audio brand was discontinued and the Harman Specialty Group (HSG) was
formed. Harman International formed HSG on the cornerstone of three key
brands: Mark Levinson, Lexicon and Revel. The RT-10 would be
scrutinized by home theater industry experts and consumers alike, not
only because it was HSG’s first foray into source componentry – the
Mark Levinson brand did not and still does not manufacture a video
source component although the No. 51 will be available soon – but also
because it came on the heels of Proceed’s $6,000 PMDT universal
transport, which had a litany of reliability issues until it was
eventually discontinued. In addition, Lexicon would enter this
high-stakes reference-quality segment of the market by designing the
RT-10 as a hybrid player featuring two new technologies: Super Audio CD
(SACD) and DVD-Audio (DVD-A).

I reviewed the RT-10 in September 2003 for AVRev.com
and walked away impressed enough to keep it in my system, a place where
it has proudly resided for two-and-a-half years. As far as sound and
picture quality for a universal player were concerned, the RT-10 had no
equal at the time for its price, but the glaring omission of an RS-232
port and a grossly flawed front panel display kept it out of the ranks
of the elite. With a hefty price tag of $3,500, many consumers could
rightly have been disappointed with the RT-10. It took several years of
development, but Lexicon has introduced its replacement, the Lexicon
RT-20 Universal Disc Player ($4,995). Much like the RT-10, the RT-20
was designed to play all current formats of audio and video discs,
including but not limited to CD, CD-R, SACD, DVD-A, DVD-V and DVD-R.
The RT-20 even handles MP3 and JPEG formats.

Andy Clark, director of marketing at HSG, explained to me that Lexicon
had three main goals with the RT-20: add RS-232 compatibility, add a
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) and improve the internal
design by incorporating better quality parts, most notably with respect
to the digital-to-analog converters (D/A). Engineers at HSG quickly
recognized that in order to meet their design goals, they could not opt
for a quick makeover of the RT-10, but rather would seek to completely
re-engineer the RT-20 from the ground up.

Aesthetically, the RT-20 is similar to its predecessor, maintaining the
brushed aluminum front panel and rugged chassis. In fact, before the
player is turned on, the front panel of the RT-20 looks almost the same
as the RT-10. Once I plugged the unit in, however, I was greeted by a
newly designed LED display, which replaces the flawed design of that on
the RT-10. Many of the biggest upgrades on the RT-20, however, are
inside and on the back of the player. Evidence that Lexicon
reengineered the RT-20 from the ground up is clear in the fact that the
rear panel of the RT-20 looks nothing like the RT-10. Not only has
Lexicon added new RS-232 and HDMI interfaces, but the standard
connectors for BNC and RCA component video, S-Video and analog and
digital audio outputs have all been dramatically moved from their
previous positions on the back of the RT-10. Other upgrades include
14-bit/216 MHz D/A video converters (from 12-bit/108 MHz previously)
and a far more user-friendly and functional array of set-up menus.

Set-upNo
doubt, the most notable improvement to the RT-20 is its support for
HDMI. Arguably, HDMI is the future interface of high-definition
connectivity. In my view, the benefits of HDMI accrue to both content
providers, who can fully copy-protect their material, as well as to
consumers, who experience 100% digital video that is free of the
artifacts that are typically seen with digital-to-analog conversion.
For consumers without an HDMI input on their displays, the Lexicon
RT-20 has been equipped with state-of-the-art D/A video converters.
HDMI is the preferred set-up option, however, and the one which I
utilized for this evaluation. Since my Fujitsu Plasmavision has only a
single DVI input and I was looking to run multiple HDMI sources to my
display, I utilized a HDMI channel switcher from PureLink, model
HDS-21R ($299 from http://www.dtrovision.com/). I was pleased that the
PureLink switcher came with its own remote, is RS-232 compatible and
has a high bandwidth that ensures it can easily handle future
high-definition video. Using this switcher combined with HDMI cables
from PureLink and a DVI cable and HDMI-to-DVI adaptor from Transparent,
I was able to wire both the RT-20 and Scientific Atlanta 8300HD cable
box to my display, using HDMI. I wired the RT-20 for audio no
differently that I had the RT-10, using Transparent Cable interconnects
on the analog outputs for SACD and DVD-A, as well as AES/EBU digital
audio output to my Proceed AVP2.

I called upon the
services of Imaging Sciences Foundation calibration guru and recently
recruited AVRev.com staff writer, Kevin Miller (http://www.isftv.com/),
to tweak my plasma picture to perfection. With both my cable box and
the RT-20 utilizing the same DVI input on my plasma, it was necessary
to first calibrate the display for HDTV and then utilize the RT-20’s
complete suite of video calibration controls, which Lexicon calls its
Video Adjust feature, to calibrate the picture for watching DVD. With
Video Adjust, we were able to obtain exact control over chrominance,
brightness, noise reduction, gamma, hue, chroma and sharpness, as well
as black and white levels to obtain a properly calibrated picture for
both the cable box with HDTV and the RT-20 for DVD. While the obvious
drawback with this configuration is that my display remains
uncalibrated for analog television, this remains unimportant to me, as
I do not watch much analog television anyway.

The MusicI
began my listening with an old King Crimson classic, “Starless and
Bible Black” (Virgin Records). As part of the King Crimson 25th
Anniversary Collection of digitally remixed and remastered albums,
“Starless and Bible Black” sounds materially better than the original
release. Right from the opening track, “Great Deceiver,” and throughout
the album, I was taken back by the coherence and breadth of the overall
soundstage. I particularly enjoyed the clarity of Bill Bruford’s snare
drum and high hat, as well as the smoothness of John Wetton’s lead
vocal. Instrument separation was far better than average, especially on
“Great Deceiver” and “The Night Watch.” Fripp’s guitars were delivered
without any edginess and never muddied the soundstage. Violin and viola
sections throughout the album by David Cross were fluid yet textured
enough to sound live. Overall, the RT-20 imparted an ease to my
listening experience on “Starless and Bible Black” that I enjoyed
immensely.

When
Sony first released many of Bob Dylan’s best titles on SACD, it was an
experience in renewed clarity. I was shocked to hear many guitar and
percussion parts that were less evident in previous low-resolution
versions. While not all of Dylan’s albums available on SACD mixed in
surround sound, they all sound exceptional compared to their originals,
given the obvious limitations of recording techniques during the era
when they were first recorded. In my evaluation of the RT-20, I opted
for Dylan’s 1965 classic, “Bringing It All Back Home” (Sony Music
Entertainment), in two-channel SACD. Beginning with “Subterranean
Homesick Blues,” Dylan’s vocals sounded natural and the separation
between each instrument was impressive. This was equally true on
“Maggie's Farm,” where it was possible to follow the background
electric guitar behind Dylan’s vocal and harmonica almost note for
note. Of course, no review would be complete without mentioning “Mr.
Tambourine Man.” The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity and
Dylan’s spirited performance. The RT-20 never interfered with my
ability to feel like Dylan was performing live in my living room. The
most subtle details, such as the sound of the pick dragging over the
strings of Dylan’s acoustic guitar, helped breathe life into this
familiar classic.

To conclude my audio evaluation of the RT-20, I would naturally listen
to some DVD-Audio, and Neil Young’s “Harvest” (Reprise Records) easily
fit that bill. Although the surround mix on “Harvest” is sometimes
awkward, with instruments emanating from channels that I would not have
expected – a lone high hat cymbal in the rear left channel, for example
– the RT-20 did an excellent job handling instrument clarity and making
the soundstage feel more palatable than I have heard with other DVD-A
players. The string arrangements on “A Man Needs a Maid” were
accurately reproduced, creating a dynamic tapestry of sound.
Furthermore, the bass and kick drum on “Heart of Gold” were deep but
not overpowering and the acoustic guitars sounded natural. The
highlight here clearly was Young’s harmonica which, although it irked
me a bit because it originated from the rear surround channels, still
sounded as live as any harmonica I have heard on my system. Finally, on
“Alabama” and “Words,” Young’s signature distorted Gibson electric
guitars were in full bloom, proving that the RT-20 can definitely
handle the dynamics of hard rock.

The Movies
To
evaluate the RT-20’s newly upgraded video capabilities with HDMI, I
reached for the Widescreen Edition of “Miracle” (Walt Disney Home
Entertainmen), the emotional story of the 1980 Olympic gold
medal-winning ice hockey team. In Scene 7, “Again!,” where Kurt Russell
(playing the role of coach Herb Brooks) puts the team through the paces
after tying the Norwegian team during pre-Olympic competition, skin
tones during the team handshake were highly accurate. Shadow detail was
about as good as I have experienced with my Fujitsu Plasmavision during
the drills, especially after the rink manager shut down the house
lights. It was easy to see subtle details in the texture of the ice and
uniforms. Blacks were true and deeper than usual, with far less noise
than other DVD players I have tested. In Scene 13, “Olympics Begin,”
when Brooks explains to his star player Jack O'Callahan that he can
remain on the team despite Callahan’s injury, color saturation of
yellows, blues and reds of the rink and surrounding details were
stellar and surpassed the quality of those rendered by the Faroudja
NRS-DVI processor and Lexicon RT-10 I previously had in my system. In
Scene 14, “I Am a Hockey Player,” when the United States battles Sweden
on the ice, the picture had a depth and silkiness that one generally
associates with high-definition video. This effect is no doubt
attributable to the high-quality scaler in the RT-20, as well as the
benefits associated with fully digital HDMI technology.

I
concluded my time with the RT-20 watching one of my favorite films of
all time, director/writer/actor Roberto Benigni’s “Life Is Beautiful”
(Miramax Home Entertainment, 1997, Widescreen Collector’s Edition).
“Life Is Beautiful,” nothing short of a true masterpiece, is the story
of a waiter (Benigni) who, by exercising his extraordinary imagination
and remarkable sense of humor, saves his Italian-Jewish family from
destruction during the Holocaust. The cinematography, by the legendary
Tonino Delli Colli, whose career as a cinematographer spanned six
decades with almost 150 film credits, has a beautiful simplicity and a
rich, classic feel. This allows the viewer to be quickly captured by
Benigni’s fable with a magnetism that is rare in movie-watching,
especially in digital home cinema. In Scene 14, “A Wedding
Announcement,” the most subtle details in the 1940s-style costumes are
beautifully depicted and the Ethiopian cake, in the familiar colors of
Italy, is remarkably grand in appearance, especially the warm
candlelight that accents the cake’s golden trim. In Scene 18, “”Where
Are We Going?,” where Benigni’s character lies to his son Joshua,
telling him they are going on trip for his birthday when in fact they
are being transferred to a concentration camp, the shadow detail here
was excellent. Later, as the family is temporarily reunited as they
await the second leg of their trip, the color saturation of the
surrounding scene reminded me of a classic film with its picture
perfectly restored. Throughout the film, I truly enjoyed the accuracy
with which the RT-20 delivered “Life Is Beautiful,” particularly the
amazingly saturated colors and artifact-free picture.

The picture quality of the RT-20 was so enjoyable with HDMI that I
found myself revisiting many DVDs in my collection just to see how
great they could look. When I watched “The Matrix,” “He Got Game,”
“Cast Away” and “Fargo,” my conclusions were consistent. Shadow detail
and black levels were much improved from the RT-10. In addition, colors
were highly accurate and beautifully saturated. At times, some scenes
had a delicious-looking quality to them that was reminiscent of a fine
painting. It is really hard to find much fault with the video
performance of the RT-20 other than perhaps suggest that I wish it was
capable of 1080p output. This is arguable, however. While on one hand,
1080p surpasses the level of performance of my plasma display, it would
be nice to know it was there, as newer displays will offer this
capability in the future.

The DownsideThe
downside of the RT-20 lies within its position in the marketplace and
the timing of its release. As a universal disc player, the RT-20 is an
exceptional product, clearly among the finest of its kind. The home
theater industry, however, is just about to embark on a new era of
high-definition home product this spring with the release of HD-DVD and
Blu-ray. While it remains uncertain which of these competing
technologies will eventually emerge as dominant, both technologies
threaten the viability of the traditional DVD format. This is not to
suggest that traditional DVD is dead. Quite the contrary. Both HD-DVD
and Blu-ray players will all be backwards-compatible with DVD
technology and many will scale to 1080p, thus keeping your old DVD
collection viable for the foreseeable future. However, for potential
consumers of the RT-20, the backwards compatibility of these
high-definition players makes it extremely difficult to argue that
spending $4,995 on the RT-20 is a smart investment. This is especially
true when many of these high-definition players will easily break the
$1,000 price point immediately upon their release. In defense of the
RT-20, however, I would speculate that neither Blu-ray nor HD-DVD
players will likely match the RT-20’s video performance with
traditional DVD and certainly none will match its performance playing
traditional CD. In addition, it is highly probable that few if any of
these players will be compatible with high-resolution SACD or DVD-Audio
discs.
ConclusionThe
RT-20 is a step forward in universal disc player performance and a
clear improvement over its predecessor. With audio, the RT-20 is hard
to beat. It plays all formats currently available with exceptional
precision and remarkable clarity. In terms of HDMI video, the RT-20
produces a dazzling, artifact-free picture that, absent enhancement by
an outboard scaler at several times its price, is about as good as DVD
gets. The RT-20 does, however, also likely represent a final step
forward for DVD performance, as revolutionary, high-definition video
disc formats are scheduled to enter the market almost any day now. So
who should purchase the RT-20? In my opinion, audio enthusiasts seeking
ultra-high performance with their legacy music collections,
particularly those with SACD and/or DVD-A collections, will be thrilled
with the RT-20. Furthermore, consumers with a passion for home theater
seeking exceptional performance from their existing DVD collections
should audition the RT-20. The reality is that if you are setting up a
new theater with video as your top priority and do not have a large DVD
collection, the RT-20 is not your best option. Those consumers should
go straight into the HD-DVD or Blu-ray market. This said, the RT-20 is
a best-in-class performer for what it is designed to do and consumers
who are lucky enough to afford one will certainly be rewarded with
years of enjoyment.